Screen enclosure



Dec. 14, 1965 R, po

SCREEN ENCLOSURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 8, 1962 INVENTOR.

ROBE/ 1 T L POF R. LlPOF Dec. 14, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 8, 1962 INVENTOR.

ROBERT L IPOF AW M Dec. 14, 1965 R. LIPOF 3,222,841

SCREEN ENCLOSURE Filed Oct. 8, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 INVENTOR. ROBE/Q T L IPOF United States Patent 3,222,841 SCREEN ENCLOSURE Robert Lipof, Miami, Fla, assignor to Aire-Lite Industries, Ina, Hialeah, Fla., a corporation of Florida Filed Get. 8, 1962, er. No. 228,914 4 Claims. (Cl. 52731) This invention relates to building structures and is more particularly directed to the structural members of a screen enclosure.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a screen enclosure with structural members constructed of solid extrusions interlocked together to form a hollow extrusion thereby reducing the cost of the structural members.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a screen enclosure with structural members that are fabricated from extrusions produced from a die having a self mating shape which permits the use of two solid extruded members to be joined together to form a single hollow member thereby resulting in a reduction in costs of manufacture.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a screen enclosure with structural members that are economical in cost, simple to fabricate requiring no special tools and having a greater strength than comparable structural members of the hollow type.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a screen enclosure with extruded structural members that require only three different dies to extrude all of the members necessary to fabricate into the structural members.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a screen enclosure with structural members having spine slots or grooves for receiving the edges of a screen and a spline therein to secure the screen in place.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

FIGURE 1 is a fnagmentary perspective view of a screen enclosure constructed in accordance with my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view of a single interlocking member which forms some of the structural members of the screen enclosure including that shown by FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 4- of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional view of a single interlocking of the structural member shown by FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view of a frame assembly showing the intermediate column connections.

FIGURE 7 is a similar view showing the corner column connections.

3,222,341 Patented Dec. 14, 1965 Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals are used to designate similar parts throughout the several views, the number 10 refers to my screen enclosure shown only in part consisting generally of a platform or floor 11 on which are mounted a plurality of upstanding corner columns A, side wall columns B on one side and load bearing columns C along the other side. Extending between the columns A, B and C are floor plates F, chair rails R and roof perimeter beams F. Load bearing roof beams or rafters S extend across the full width of the screen enclosure 10 with their ends secured to and supported by the load bearing columns C while purlins P extend between the rafter perimeter beams T and load bearing beams S, and also between load bearing beams S if more than one such beam is used.

All of the structural members named hereinabove are made of solid extruded members. Some of these structural members such as the floor plate F consists of a single extruded member; some consist of two extruded members made from a single die, which members interlock or interengage with each other such as the side wall columns B, the load bearing columns C, the load bearing beams S, the purlins P and the chair rails R, the remainder of the structural members such as the corner columns A and the roof perimeter beams T require three extruded members wherein two of the extruded members interlock as described above while the third is fastened thereto for providing a channel for receiving a screen spline. The various members forming the structural framework require only three dies for their fabrication as is described in detail hereinafter.

The floor plate F consists of an elongated main flat body portion 15 along whose edges extend flanges 16 and 17 at right angle thereto at the ends of which are inturned flanges 18 extending in a direction toward each other. Connecting the flange 17 to the body portion 15 is a spline groove 19 While on the lower surface of the main body portion 15 is a pair of screw bolt seats 20. The flo or plates F are fastened to the platform 11, extending between the columns A, B and C as best shown by FIG- URE 1. Members 14 which form. the floor plates F are also used in the fabrication of the corner columns C and the roof perimeter beams T in order to provide those members with a third spline groove 19 as is explained in detail hereinafter.

The side wall columns B, ichair rails R and purlins P are all of identical construction consisting of a pair of interlocking, self mating extruded members 13, each member being of identical construction whereby only one die is necessary for extruding these structural members 13. As best shown by FIGURES 2 and 3 the self mating interlocking members 13 each consists of an elongated main flat body portion 21 with a spline channel or groove 22 positioned along both edges of the body portion 21. A flange 23 extends from the spline groove 22 at right angle to the main body portion 21. At approximately the juncture of the spline groove 22 and the flange 23, there extends an interlocking member 24 inwardly of the flange 23 having a shoulder 25 positioned in spaced relation to the inner surface of the flange 23. Along the other spline groove 22 extends a flange 26 somewhat identical in position and size as the flange 23. The free edge of the flange 26 is stepped inwardly as at 27 a distance equal to the thickness of the flanges 23 and 26 with a second flange 28 mounted therealong. The second flange 28 has an enlarged pointed edge 29 with a shoulder 30 positioned at the edge 29. The length of the second flange 28 is equal to that of the flange 23 along its inside surface so that when two interlocking members 13 as shown by FIGURE 3 are made to interengage, the shoulder 30 of each member 13 will become interengaged with the shoulder 25 of the other member 13. The flanges 23 of each member 13 will lie along the flange 28 of the other member 13 to provide a smooth and level surface. On the inside surface of the main body portion 21 is a screw bolt seat 31. The purlins P, chair rails R and side wall columns B are all of the same construction as shown by FIGURE 2 consisting of the pair of interlocking members 13 described above. Screen edges 32 are folded into the two outwardly positioned spline grooves 22 and splines 33 forced therein to anchor the screens 32 in place. Note that the inner surfaces of the spline grooves 22 are serrated to assist the splines 33 to retain the screens 32 in the grooves 22.

Since two adjacent sides of the interlocked members 13 form the outer surfaces of the corner columns A, these surfaces require a spline groove for receiving screens 32 as shown by FIGURE 1. However since there are no spline grooves opening on the main body member 21, the member 14 identical to that of the floor plate F is mounted on the interlocking members 13, as shown by FIGURE 7 being fastened together by bolts (not shown) extending through bores 34 in the main body portion 21 and bores 35 in the interlocking members 13.

The load bearing columns C and the load bearing beams S are of identical construction consisting of a pair of identical overlapping members 12 as shown by FIG- URES 4 and and 6. Each of the members 12 consist of an elongated flat main body portion 36 along whose edges extend spline grooves 37 and 38. On the free edge of the spline groove 37 there is a flange 39 which is in coplanar alignment with the outer edges of the spline groove 37. The inner surface of the flange 39 is serrated as shown. The free edge of the spline groove 38 is stepped inwardly as at 40 a distance equal to the thickness of the flange 39 with a flange 41 mounted therealong. The outer surface of the flange 441 is serrated as shown. The two flanges 39 and 41 are the same length so that when two overlapping members 12 are positioned together as shown by FIGURE 4, the load bearing columns and beams C and S are formed having a rectangular cross section. Screws 46 fasten the members 12 together. The pair of spline grooves 37 and 38 which find themselves on the outer surface of the column C and beam S will receive the screen 32 and the splines 33. At the ends of the load bearing beams S a rectangular slot 43 is cut therein to permit the load bearing beams S to be lap butted on the load bearing column C. A gussett plate 44 which straddles the abutting body portions 36 at the slot 43 is fastened to the load bearing beam S and the load bearing column C. Cap members 45 are fitted over and secured to the ends of the load bearing beams S as well as the ends of roof perimeter beams T.

From the above description it is readily noted that only three diflerent dies are required to produce the various structural members. One die will produce the extruded floor plate members 14, a second die will produce the extruded interlocking members 13 while the third die will produce the extruded overlapping members 12. The side wall column B, chair rails R and purlins P are made of two extruded interlocked members 13. The load bearing columns C and load bearing beams S are made of two extruded overlapping members 12 fastened together by screw bolts 46. The floor plate F consists of one extruded plate member 14, while the corner columns A and the roof perimeter beams T are made of a pair of interlocking members 13 and an extruded plate member 14 fastened thereto,

The screen enclosure is itself readily erected without any tool other than a screw driver. For example, each wall and roof section is layed out on the ground and then erected into position. At each end of the wall or roof section there will be one interlocking member 13 or an overlapping member 12 which will interlock or overlap a similar member on the adjoining wall section to form the entire walls of the screen enclosure 10. The interlocking members 13 are snapped together while the overlapping members 12 are fastened together by screws 46. Then screens 32 are spread over the wall and roof surfaces. The edges are placed into the grooves 22 and the spines 33 forced into the grooves 22 to secure the screens 32 in place. The grooves 22 on the inner surface of the chair rails R may be used to receive an ornamental trim for decorative purposes.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new 1. A self mating extruded structural member for screen enclosures comprising a substantially elongated body portion, spline receiving slots formed along each edge of said elongated body portion adapted for holding screen edges therein, a first flange member at the side of one of said spline receiving slots extending at substantially right angle to said body portion, said first flange member being in alignment with one edge of said body portion, interlocking means formed on the inner surface of said first flange member, said interlocking means consisting of an interlocking member extending in spaced relation to said first flange member, shoulder means formed on said interlocking member and facing said first flange member, a second flange member at the corresponding side of the other spline receiving slot extending at substantially right angle from said body portion in the same direction as said first flange member, said second flange member having a portion in alignment with said edge of said body member, said aligned portion being substantially the same width as said first flange and a further extended portion stepped inwardly a distance equal to the thickness of said first flange member and second interlocking means mounted on the free end of said inwardly stepped portion of said second flange member said second interlocking means having a shoulder adapted to be received by said first named interlocking means of a second identical self mating extruded structural member for interengagement of said shoulders and similarly locking said mating members together at both sides thereof.

2. A self mating extruded structural member for screen enclosures comprising a pair of substantially elongated body portions, spline receiving slots formed along each edge of said elongated body portions adapted for holding screen edges therein, a first flange member formed at the side of one of said spline receiving slots on each body portion extending at substantially right angle to said body portion, each first flange member being in alignment with one edge of the corresponding body portions, interlocking means formed on the inner surface of each first flange member, each of said interlocking means consisting of an interlocking member extending in spaced relation to said first flange member, shoulder means formed on each of said interlocking means facing said first flange member, a second flange member formed at the side of the other spline receiving slot extending at substantially right angle to each body portion, each second flange member having a portion in alignment with said edge of said body members, said aligned portion being substantially the same width as said first flange, and a further extended portion stepped inwardly a distance equal to the thickness of said first flange members, second interlocking means mounted on the free end of each of said inwardly stepped portions of said second members, each of said second interlocking means having a shoulder, said first flange members of each of said body portions being received by said stepped portions of said second flange members and said shoulder 5 means becoming interengaged to form a unitary hollow structural member.

3. A self mating structural member comprising a body member having edge portions, a first flange member extending at substantially right angle to said body member from one of said edge portions, interlocking means extending from an inner surface of said first flange member, said interlocking means having an interlocking pawl member extending outwardly in spaced relation to said first flange member, a shoulder formed on said interlocking pawl member and facing said first flange member, a second flange member extending from the other of said edge portions at substantially right angle to said body member, said second flange member having a portion in alignment with said other of said edge portion and a portion removed from said body member stepped inwardly a distance substantially equal to the thickness of said first flange member and second interlocking means mounted on the free end of said inwardly stepped portion of said second flange member, said second interlocking means having a shoulder adapted to be received by said first named interlocking means of a second identically constructed self mating extruded structural member for interengaging said shoulders and locking said members together.

4. A self mating structural member comprising a pair of identically formed interlocking body members. having edge portions, a first flange member extending at substantially right angle to each of said body members in alignment with one of said edges, interlocking means mounted on an inner surface of said first flange members, each of said interlocking means consisting of an interlocking member mounted in spaced relation to said first flange members, shoulder means mounted on each of said interlocking members facing said first flange members, a second flange member mounted at a substantially right angle at the other of said edge portions of each of said body members, said second flange members. having a portion in alignment with said other of said edge portions and a portion removed from said body members stepped inwardly a distance substantially equal to the thickness of said first flange members, second interlocking means. mounted on the free end of each of said inwardly stepped portions of said second flange members, each of said second interlocking means having a shoulder, said first flange members of each of said body portions. being received by said stepped portions of said second flange members and said shoulder means becoming interen gaged to form a unitary hollow structural member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,837,153 6/1958 Brown et al. 5263 2,976,969 3/1961 Gillespie 52464 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,245,055 9/1960 France.

RICHARD W. COOKE, JR., Primary Examiner. 

1. A SELF MATING EXTRUDED STRUCTURAL MEMBER FOR SCREEN ENCLOSURE COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY ELONGATED BODY PORTION, SPLINE RECEIVING SLOTS FORMED ALONG EACH EDGE OF SAID ELONGATED BODY PORTION ADAPTED FOR HOLDING SCREEN EDGES THEREIN, A FIRST FLANGE MEMBER AT THE SIDE OF ONE OF SAID SPLINE RECEIVING SLOTS EXTENDING AT SUBSTANTIALLY RIGHT ANGLE TO SAID BODY PORTION, SAID FIRST FLANGE MEMBER BEING IN ALIGNMENT WITH ONE EDGE OF SAID BODY PORTION, INTERLOCKING MEANS FORMED ON THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID FIRST FLANGE MEMBER, SAID INTERLOCKING MEANS CONSISTING OF AN INTERLOCKING MEMBER EXTENDING IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID FIRST FLANGE MEMBER, SHOULDER MEANS FORMED ON SAID INTERLOCKING MEMBER AND FACING SAID FIRST FLANGE MEMBER, A SECOND FLANGE MEMBER AT THE CORRESPONDING SIDE OF THE OTHER SPLINE RECEIVING SLOT EXTENDING AT SUBSTANTIALLY RIGHT ANGLE FROM SAID BODY PORTION IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS SAID FIRST FLANGE MEMBER, SAID SECOND FLANGE MEMBER HAVING A PORTION IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID EDGE OF SAID BODY MEMBER, SAID ALIGNED PORTION BEING SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME WIDTH AS SAID FIRST FLANGE AND A FURTHER EXTENDED PORTION STEPPED INWARDLY A DISTANCE EQUAL TO THE THICKNESS OF SAID FIRST FLANGE MEDMBER AND SECOND INTERLOCKING MEANS MOUNTED ON THE FREE END OF SAID INWARDLY STEPPED PORTION OF SAID SECOND FLANGE MEMBER AND SAID SECOND INTERLOCKING MEANS HAVING A SHOULDER ADAPTED TO RECEIVED BY SAID FIRST NAMED INTERLOCKING MEANS OF A SECOND IDENTICAL SELF MATING EXTRUDED STRUCTURAL MEMBER FOR INTERENGAGEMENT OF SAID SHOULDERS AND SIMILIARY LOCKING SAID MATING MEMBERS TOGETHER AT BOTH SIDES THEREOF. 